LRA exec in title tampering faces raps

THE Supreme Court (SC) has ordered the Office of the Ombudsman to file graft charges against a ranking official of the Land Registration Authority (LRA) for tampering with 39 titles.

In a decision penned by Associate Justice Jose Perez, the SC’s 2nd Division ordered the Ombudsman to file a complaint for violation of Sections 3(a) and (e) of Republic Act (RA) No. 3019 against Pasig City Register of Deeds Policarpio Espenesin and private respondent Francis Serrano.

The High Court also found Espenesin guilty of grave misconduct and imposed upon him “the penalty of dismissal from service.” His retirement pay and benefits were likewise ordered forfeited.

Espenesin was assigned as the head of the Pasig Registry of Deeds, while Serrano worked for the Yuchengco-owned Malayan Insurance Company.